Mississippi State Returns Home for Midweek Matchup Against Samford
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State is set to host Samford for a quick midweek clash at Dudy Noble Field on Tuesday, sandwiched between two Southeastern Conference road series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
For the third consecutive midweek game, MSU will turn to Noah Sullivan as the starting pitcher. While the junior right-hander has yet to factor into a decision, he has helped State secure wins in both of his previous starts. Over six scoreless innings, Sullivan has struck out six batters without issuing a walk, maintaining a perfect ERA.
Samford will counter with senior right-hander Brooks Rice, a Mississippi native making his sixth start of the season. Rice holds an 0-1 record with a 10.03 ERA, having struck out nine and walked eight over 11 2/3 innings, with opponents hitting .320 against him.
Mississippi State (15-9) enters Tuesday’s contest following a road series loss at Oklahoma, though the Bulldogs claimed a 2-1 victory over the 10th-ranked Sooners last Friday.
Chris Lemonis’ squad boasts a .315 team batting average, 38 home runs, and averages 7.7 runs per game. MSU has been aggressive on the basepaths, swiping 32 bases in 36 attempts, while also maintaining a .970 fielding percentage.
Sullivan has been a force at the plate as well, leading the team with 32 hits and a .420 batting average. Ace Reese tops MSU with eight home runs and 34 RBIs, while Ross Highfill has stolen a team-best eight bases in 10 attempts.
On the mound, Mississippi State’s pitching staff has combined for a 3.55 ERA, tallying 277 strikeouts and 80 walks across 198 innings. Opponents are hitting just .195 against them. Pico Kohn, named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday, leads the team with 53 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Sullivan, Gavin Black, and Cade O’Leary have yet to allow an earned run this season, and Luke Dotson and Chase Hungate share the team lead with two saves apiece.
Samford (13-11) heads to Starkville after dropping a series at East Tennessee State, though it salvaged the finale with a 13-7 win on Sunday.
The visiting Bulldogs are hitting .298 as a team with 26 home runs, matching MSU’s 7.7 runs per game. They have stolen 54 bases in 65 attempts and hold a .964 fielding percentage.
Cade Carr leads Samford’s offense, hitting .395 with 34 RBIs, while Trey Higgins paces the team with five home runs. Jeffrey Ince has been a menace on the basepaths, successfully stealing 13 bases in 14 attempts.
Samford’s pitching staff carries a 5.84 ERA with 220 strikeouts and 103 walks over 195 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .258 against them and have launched 34 home runs this season.
Evan Steckmessar leads the Samford staff with 33 strikeouts and has one of the team’s three saves, alongside Mason Blasche and Joseph Lee. Meanwhile, Will Lynch and John Malone have yet to surrender an earned run.
Mississippi State holds a 40-11 lead in the all-time series and has won the last two meetings against Samford. Last season, MSU edged out a 9-5 extra-inning victory on the road, with Bryce Chance delivering a go-ahead solo home run in the 10th inning.
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